I move to pick up my cell phone, and then remember he's not even in the country. He was sent to China on assignment, a hit on some mogul and some other family side business stuff our dad has been teaching them in. He and Beckett went together, and they won't be back until next month.
The cold air rushes through the car. It works well to keep me awake. I haven't slept in three days. She doesn't even seem fazed by the chill. I pull the car over before we can hit the main streets. I turn off the headlights and the engine, so I don't draw attention. A streetlamp stands a couple of feet in front of us, illuminating the car so I can easily see her hand movements. I'm shocked at how easily ASL has come back to me. I need to brush up on it more, but I used it three years of my life, I should hope that more than half of it stuck somewhere in my brain.
She looks over at me. "What are you doing? Do you want me to kill myself here? I was hoping for the woods. Fewer people around to traumatize or try to save me."
The way she talks so easily about her death is disconcerting. I've never met someone like her. Was she feeling like this before she got shot? I know she cried a lot, but if she was wanting to off herself so bad, why hadn't she done it?
I look her in the eye, and she turns her gaze away.
"Look at me."
Her green eyes turn back toward me. "What?"
"Do you actually want to die? Answer honestly, because even if a shred of you wants to live, then I think I can make that happen."
She rolls her eyes. "Pipe dream. The WPP has been telling me for four years that they'll get me to where I'll be free. Nothing yet. What's the point of living if I can't live?"
"What if we make everyone think you're dead? You can start over. If you're dead, then there's no one for them to chase. You would be free."
Her face remains stoic.
I raise a brow. "Well, is that something you would want or not?"
She sighs. "You act as if we're friends and I'm supposed to be excited and take off running with whatever idea you clearly have. I don't know you. I have no reason to trust you. I've been burned so many times.
I've tried everything in my power to make my life normal, and it hasn't happened. I doubt you'll propose anything new."
I rub at my scruff. It's heartbreaking to see someone who's still young and could have decades still ahead of them so ready to give up. "Have you tried faking your death? Changing your hair and your name? My family is connected to several networks that the WPP doesn’t have access to. If we circulate staged execution photos of you, it would get around to anyone who could possibly be looking to have you killed. You wouldn't have to look over your shoulder all the time. You could live your life however you want. Once my brother is back in town we could stage all of it. I've been doing this for decades. I can make a kill look real. No one will question it."
For a second, she blinks fast as if she's going to cry before she lets out a heavy sigh and hangs her head. "You said he's going to be gone a month. What do I do until then? Sit in my apartment and wait for someone else to try and shoot me? I doubt it'll be a bad shot a second time."
I shake my head. "You would disappear from your life now. My family has safe houses all over the world and several bunkers. I could take you to one of them. I would cover the trail, provide food and shelter for you, and then when the time comes we can stage your death. Circulate it and a week or two after that you'll be a free woman to do whatever you want. I have contacts for all of it."
Her gaze comes up to meet mine. "But why do you want to help me do this? What do you gain from it?"
My grip tightens on the wheel. "I don't get anything really. My family will get the money for your hit, and I'll have the knowledge that you're not actually dead. Believe it or not, I do have a soul and I believe you're innocent. I don't know if I could keep doing this with your death on my conscience."
Her gaze turns to stare out the windshield. She looks as if she's contemplating the meaning of life. She then looks back at me. "How do I know you aren't one of them?"
I cock my head to the side. "I don't think I understand you. Them? Who are they?"
"Harold."
I frown. "Who is Harold? I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know your history. I couldn't find anything beyond the Identity that was given to you. I tried to have my brother Beckett dig deeper, but the WPP worked hard to cover whoever you used to be."
Her jaw flexes. She looks back at me and stares at me for a long time. "Fine. Let's do this. What do I have to lose at this point?"
My frown deepens. I don't like to hear her talk like that. It makes me so sad. There's something about her that makes me want to help her. I've felt that way from the second I found her and saw her for the first time. I don't understand it, but I know I need to help her. Dropping her off in front of the FBI so she can go into the same loop isn't going to help her. She needs help getting out of it and making the people who want her dead think that she is. Perhaps I can even help her get revenge on a couple of them if she can give me names. She said Harold, however, I need more than that.
I start the car again. "I'll take you to your place so you can get clothes that you'll be comfortable in and I can get you anything else. Then I'll take you to a place where no hitman will be able to track you, it's made for that. It's not going to be easy, but once it's all over, you'll be free."
Chapter Four
Gwen
I don't knowwhat to think. My gut says he's not part of any of the rings. He doesn't give off the vibe of men who are on the inside, even ones raised inside the circle to then become captors. They always give off an air and he doesn't have any of it. His idea probably won't work, but faking my death is the only thing I haven't tried. I don't have the means to pull something like that off on my own.
What I said to him is true. At this point I don't have anything to lose, except for my life, which it feels like no matter which way I turn, it's still going to be the same thing. Any way I spin it, I'm going to end up dead whether I want it or not. I might as well try out his plan and if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. I'm to that point.
